Apparatus for electroplating articles of elongated contour



Dec. 29, 1931. L W, MON 1,838,181,7

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING ARTICLES OF ELONGATED CONTOUR Filed Dec. 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l' Dec. 29, 1981. J, Wl MOON 1,838,187

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING ARTICLES OF' ELONGATED CONTOUR Filed Deo. 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dee. 29, @Si

UNIE@ STATES JOHN W. MOON, 0F BUTLER,

ASSIGNMENTS, TOFBETZ-MOON TUBE C A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE OMPANY, INC., 0F BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA,

APPARATUS FOR. ELECTROILATING ARTICLES OF ELONGATED CONTOUR Application led December 7, 1928. Serial No. S24-,468.

rIhe object of the invention is to provide an improved method and mechanism for electro-plating pipes, tubes, bars, rods or other articles of elongated contour. Heretofore these bars have been stood vertically, suitably spaced apart, in an electrolytic solution, and suitably positioned relative to vertically extending anodes. 'llhis arrangement causes the deposition of a too thick coating of metal on the sides of the articles (which, for convenience, will hereinafter be designated as pipes) which face the' anodes, or too thin a coating of metal on the sides of the pipes which face at an angle to the anodes; the eect being to deposit a metal coating of varying thickness on such pipe. To avoid this, the pipes must be turned on their axes from time to time, in order to equalize, as far as possible, the amount of metal deposited on dilferent parts of the surfaces of the Apipes and produce thereon a coating or plating of approximately uniform thickness. rIhis operation is not only time consuming and laborious, but does not produce perfect results.

rllhe more specific object of the invention is to provide mechanism which will cause the plating metal to be evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the pipes.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus, one pipe holding frame, of a number of frames constituting a complete rack, being shown. i

Fig. 2 is a top view of part of one of the racks and of part of the driving mechanism for actuating the tubes during the electroplating operation.

Fig.'3 is aview, similar to Fig. 2, of a modication.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the modification of Fig. 3.

A metal tube or tank a for the electrolytic liquid is open at the top and has its sides flanged inwardly. Extending above these flanges, and insulated' therefrom by means of strips of insulation b, are cathode bars c,

which are electrically connected with an electric generator (not shown). Extending between and over the cathode bars c are upper metal strips d overlying which are upper wooden cross-bars e. Thrcughone of the cross-bars e and the underlying inetal strip d, near opposite ends thereof, extend the upper ends of hollow metal posts f, whose lower ends extend through a corresponding lower cross-bar e and an overlying metal strip d. The hollow metal posts f are secured to the cross-bars e and e by means of metal nuts f.

Extending through the lower cross-bar e and metal stripl 0l are a series of shafts g, which are suitably shaped at the top to provide supports for a series of pipes ll to be electro-plated. These supports may take the shape of pyramids or cones h.

Extending through and depending from the upper cross-bar e and metal strip d are a series of positioning pins i aligning with the series of supporting shafts g. These pins may be provided with slidable pyramidal or conical shaped collars j, and these collars may be normally held against the enlarged lower ends of the pins i by means o springs le. The springs may both the springs and `collars may be omitted, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. l.

The parts described form a frame, which is one of a number of frames, spaced apart, and forming a complete. rack.

In mounting the pipes on the frame, the upper ends of the pipes are slipped over the pins z' and the pipes are and rest on the supports L. If slidable collarsv y' are provided, the upper ends of the tubes will engage therewith and be held thereby in an exactly vertical position. If

springs 7c are provided, the pipes will be positively held by end pressure between the top and bottom supports, although this arrangement. while desirable, is found not to be necessary in practical use.

A series of spaced apart ing anode bars 10 are supported in the tank a by means well known in the art. Each tube-carrying frame is positioned midway between two rows of anode bars.'

All the shafts g of each frame carry cranks.

m, which are connected to a common conthen allowed to drop s vertically extendf be omitted, and

for\ example, on one of the upper cross bars' e, are bearings for a driving shaft g, which is geared to a wheel 1", which ma also turn in a bearing mounted on a crossar e. Secured to one of the shafts p is alever s, which is slotted to engage a pin t on wheel 1'. An oppositely extending lever s', on shaft p, earries a connecting rod u, which is connected to the shafts p of the other frames by means of crank Aarms o.

By means of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shafts p may be continuously oscillated.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a driving wheel w, which may be rotated by any suitable means not shown, is mounted on one of the shafts p and carries a crank arm w, which, throughia connecting rod y and crank arms z, is connected with crank arms 2 on the other shafts p. By

' of such mechanism.l

this mechanism the shafts p m'ay be continuously rotated.

Whether the shafts p are rotated or oscillated, a similar movement will be imparted to shafts g and the pipes 11 mounted thereon. By this operation, all surfaces of the tubes are caused to face, for equal lengths of time, toward the anodes, thereby insuring the deposition on the tubes of a plating of uniform thickness.

An indefinite number of drivin means for the automatic turning ofthe tu es may be devised by the skilled mechanic and it is notintended to limit the claims to the details It is not, indeed, necessary to provide any power driving mechanism for turnin the tubes. For example, in the structures lllustrated, the power means for turning the crank arms secured to shafts p may be omitted and the workman having charge of the electro-plating may, from time to time, manvually operate the connecting rod u or y' ,and therebysimultaneously turn on their axes all the tubes in the tank tion.

' The vapparatus shown is adapted to receive tubes o different sizes. ,If lar e diameter tubes are to be electro-plated, it 1s often desirable or necessary to support them on alternate supporting shafts. l What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is :A 1. In an apparatus for electroplating articles of elongated form, the combination supported in proximity to and in substantial parallelism with said anodes, means for engaging the upper ends of the articles to hold them in vertical position, and linkage means for oscillating the supports.

3. In an apparatus for electroplating articles of elongated form, the combination with a tank and vertically extending anodes, of a row of supports turnable on vertical axes:

and on which said articles are adapted to be supported in proximity to and in substantial l parallelism with said anodes, vertically movable means for engaging the upper endsvof the articles to hold them in vertical position, and means for oscillating the supports.

4. In an apparatus for electroplating articles of elongated form', the combination with f a tank and vertically extending anodes, of a row of supports turnable on vertical axes and on which said articles are adapted to be supported in proximity to and in substantial parallelism with said anodes, resilient means for en aging the upper ends of the articles to hol them in vertical position, and means for oscillating the supports.

In testimony of which invention, I havehereunto set my hand, at Butler, Pa., on this 3rd day of December, 1928.

y i JOHN W. MOON.

into'anydesined posiy with a tank and vertically extending anodes of, a row of 'supports turnable on vertica 

